I Haven't forgotten!

I'm going to have to figure out how to write these two and not incorporate the James and Sofia from Abduction :P

XOXOXO

James

Sofia and I snuck out of the kitchen as her parents continued to argue. Neither of us spoke, but we both knew what the other was thinking.

"James-"

"Sofia-"

We both blushed and looked at the ground shyly. I gently took her hand and smiled as her eyes met mine.

"You are so beautiful," I breathed, bringing her hand to my lips.

She blushed deeper and I could hear her breathing become uneven.

"James, I-I don't want you to think you have to propose to me because you want me to stay," she whispered, playing with a strand of her hair nervously.

I squeezed her hand and gently raised her chin so our eyes met.

"I don't want you to think that you have to marry me immediately, Sofia. I'm not proposing to make you feel obligated to stay, I'm proposing because I love you and want you to stay with me always, I have never felt the way you make me feel,"

"I know what you mean, James, and my father seems to approve of us...I am planning on staying, just as a villager, not a royal," she frowned, "at least not until we know each other better first,"

"I understand, and I agree. I care about you very much and want you to be happy," I smiled.

I wanted to tell her how much I had already fallen in love with her and slide the ring on her finger, but I didn't want to make things harder on her than they already were.

"I care for you too, James, very much," she smiled and kissed my cheek.

I touched my cheek where her lips had been and sighed.

I had never felt so close to anyone so quickly before.

"Will you wear my ring, at least?" I asked, pulling the box from my pocket.

She smiled and nodded happily, "Of course, I would be honored,"

I slid the ring on her finger and ran my hand up her arm, making her shiver.

My hand rested on her shoulder and I leaned down to kiss her smiling mouth.

She was intoxicating.

"Sister!" Hannah squealed, running towards us.

Sofia pulled away slowly and glared at her smallest sister.

"Are you two getting married?!" Laura asked, grabbing her hand to see the ring.

"Eventually, maybe," Sofia blushed, glancing at me quickly before returning her attention to her imposing sisters.

"Mama was really mad, huh? Is it okay to go back inside?" Hannah asked, moving Sofiaa's hand in the sunlight to watch the ring glitter.

"Let's give her and papa a little more time. How about we go for a walk to pass the time?" Sofia offered and both girls nodded enthusiastically.

I extended my arm for Sofia and she took it, Hannah linked her arm through my other arm and I laughed.

I loved having these girls around.

"So once you and sister get married, you're going to be our brother! Can we call you brother? Please?!" Hannah jumped, holding my arm too tightly.

"I don't see why not if that's okay with Sofia, of course," I looked over at the blushing girl on my left.

"That's a bit presumptuous, Hannah. But I suppose it can't hurt," Sofia turned her beet-red face from me and I chuckled.

"Yay! Oh, does that mean Amber is going to be our sister too!? That would be so amazing!" Hannah was cutting my circulation off at this point.

Anyone excited to be related to Amber would have to be this crazy.

But at least my sister would have someone to boss around that wasn't me.

"Oh, for sure Amber is going to be your sister," I patted her on the head and pulled my dyeing arm from her grasp.

We walked the path around the estate, Sofia and I exchanging glances and small kisses as her sisters ran and jumped around us.

"Since the King bought Nightingale, where will we live?" Laura asked, suddenly stopping and whipping around to face us.

"We will get a house in the village, you girls can go to school and I will get a job. Hopefully in the bakery or maybe even as a teacher if I can my certificate," Sofia smiled thoughtfully.

She could work wherever she wanted. I'd see to it.

"You could be our teacher! We could get away with everything then!" Hannah smiled and Sofia frowned at her.

"You wish, little sister. I'll have a special Hannah spot in the corner," she teased and Hannah stuck her tongue out at her.

"On second thought, just go work at the bakery and bring us yummy bread home," Laura laughed, not liking the sound of her sister having more power over them than she already did.

"Is mama going to stay with us?" Hannah asked, holding Sofia's free hand gingerly as not to hurt her.

"We'll see, it may just be the three of us. Papa will want to follow mama wherever she decides to go," Sofia kissed Hannah's temple lovingly.

"I don't want to split up from them, but I don't want to go back to Hacilith," Laura hung her head sadly.

"Was Hacilith that bad?" I asked, not understanding their gloomy demeanors.

"There wasn't a school," Hannah began.

"There weren't many other kids," Laura stated.

"We just weren't very happy there. Papa worked a lot and mama was sad all the time," Sofia sighed.

"We like it a lot better here. Plus, sister is happier too," Hannah smirked at me, "she really likes you," she attempted to whisper but everyone heard her.

Laura broke out in giggles and the two of them ran off ahead of us.

Sofia rolled her eyes at them.

"Those two are incurable. But I would be lost without them," Sofia threw her head back in laughter.

I took the opportunity to kiss her exposed neck.

"Make that you three," she smiled deviously.

"Girls! Come back to the house!" Patrick yelled and we ran back to the house, meeting Patrick and Miranda on the steps.

"Girls, we will be returning to Hacilith tomorrow," Miranda stated, staring at her feet, "I want you to return with us, however, I will understand if you want to stay, but, just know, you will be on your own,"

"You're going to disown all of them for wanting to stay where they are happy?" I asked incredulously.

I looked at Patrick who was holding his hand to his head.

"I couldn't change her mind, and I have to stay with my wife. You girls are always welcome to come home," He took a shaky breath, "James, promise me you'll take care of our girls. Help Sofia out if she needs it,"

I nodded but was burning inside.

How could they do this to their daughters? Of course, I would take care of them but Hannah and Laura were too young to be abandoned by their parents!

"Girls, go get your things, we'll go to the castle and find you a place to live tomorrow," I ordered and they nodded their tear-stained faces as they sulked off.

Sofia and I stood in front of Patrick and Miranda.

We were suddenly the adults looking disappointedly at our children.

"How could you be so heartless? Hannah and Laura need you! You're just going to go back to Hacilith and never see us again?" Sofia hissed at her mother.

Miranda stayed quiet, refusing to look at her angry daughter.

"Say something, she deserves that at least," Patrick patted his wife on the back.

"I warned you that this was going to happen, once you realize that you can't take care of everything after James leaves you, you'll come home," Miranda hissed back.

Sofia and I twisted our faces in shock and fear.

She was a piece of work.

"And when you realize that I'm not going to leave her, and I do take care of them, you're going to regret leaving your girls. You're going to miss them, but if you aren't careful, they won't miss you," I barked.

I had no sympathy for Miranda.

I would show her just how wrong she was about me.

"I wish you luck, Sofia. But you need to get your sisters and leave," Miranda turned away and disappeared inside.